Heathrow faces climate change drone protest during strikes

HOLIDAYMAKERS face fresh flight chaos as an Extinction Rebellion (XR) splinter group unveiled plans to fly toy drones to disrupt Heathrow airport in September.

The new group, called Heathrow Pause, plans to force planes to be grounded by flying toy drones in the restricted zone from Sept 13, despite warnings from police that drone threats to the airport could be treated as terrorist acts with hefty jail sentences for those found guilty.

Members of the group say they know they will be arrested and acknowledge they face “significant” prison sentences but, in a statement issued yesterday morning, said they were “steadfast in our resolve”.

It will come in the middle of a series of three strikes planned by British Airways pilots which are scheduled for Sept 9, 10 and 27.

They suggested between 50 and 200 people would be involved in the action, with each person using a drone. “We do it because our consciences leave us no other choice but to act,” they said.

“We will exploit a loophole in Heathrow airport’s health and safety protocols and fly toy drones within its restricted zone,” said the statement.

“It is our understanding that the airport’s authorities will respond by grounding all flights. Drones will not be flown in flight paths and there will be no risk of harm to anyone.”

Four members of the group have been revealed as Valerie Milnerbrown, a 64-year-old writer; Jonathan Fishwick, 61, a window cleaner and posture teacher; Sylvia Dell, 61, a retired IT business analyst; and James Brown, 54, a visually impaired Paralympic medallist and charity social entrepreneur.